The Yankees were listening to 99 Problems by Jay-Z when the clubhouse opened to the media tonight. It was the first time in what like seemed like forever that the boys were enjoying themselves after a game.

Let’s admit it: A loss tonight would have put the kibosh on the season. On the day Hank Steinbrenner declared the Yankees would win it all next season, a walk-off loss against the Twins would have been devastating.

(By the way, can Hank wait until next season before saying that? Seriously, it was the earliest nutty prediction in sports history.)

Instead Jose Veras was perfect for two innings and A-Rod crushed No. 545. Then the greatest Yankee ever, Xavier Nady, drilled one off the recessed football bleachers.

Cue Jay-Z and now they have a chance to win a series for the first time since Fenway Park back on July 25-27.

On a night that a victory was denied him, Mike Mussina put it best.

â€œWe havenâ€™t been playing well,â€ he said. â€œFor us to find a way to win that game is a big deal.â€

(By the way, 99 Problems is a great song, albeit a little obscene. So when the media crowd started to gather around the Moose, Andy Pettitte turned it down. Classy guy that Andy Pettitte. Yo, people from YES, thank the big lefty for saving you there.)